We are thrilled to announce that HRH The Duchess of Cambridge attended a Recovery Street Film Festival event at Working Title in London, the home of numerous highly acclaimed British films such as Bridget Jones, Notting Hill and Love Actually.

Her Royal Highness is Patron of Action on Addiction, one of the consortium of addiction charities including Blenheim which make up the Recovery Street Film Festival.

The Duchess and invited guests were welcomed to the venue by Eric Fellner, the producer behind many of Working Titles films and he spoke of the link between film-making and improved mental health.

Graham Beech, Chief Executive of Action on Addiction said the event was a celebration of the festival, stating that “… many of us here today know someone in recovery, living their lives freely, helping others to move their lives on. The story or the film doesn’t have to end badly”.

Co-creator of the RSFF, Bob Campbell of Phoenix Futures informed The Duchess how the RSFF came into being, and how, in its third year “…it continues to meet its key objective in raising awareness of addiction and the impact that it has on individuals, families and communities, [which has been] achieved by agencies and service users working together, taking a fresh approach to delivering our message”.

RSFF judge Lisa Bryer, a film producer who has produced films including ‘The Last King of Scotland’, told how film was an integral part in her own recovery from heroin addiction as it helped her escape from the mundanities of life and truly inspired her.

As well as meeting representatives from Blenheim involved in the organising and running of the festival, the highlight of the evening was when The Duchess watched the winning films from the past three years; ‘Harry’s Story’, ‘Understanding Mum’ and ‘Hope Inside’.

David McCollom, who was involved in the making of this year’s winning film and whose own film came second in the competition, gave an inspirational speech about overcoming his own devastating addiction, and how film was a positive force in his life, not only using film himself, but setting up his own media company to help and inspire others dealing with addiction and struggling with recovery.

The Duchess then went on to a second film-related event about addiction recovery, the world premiere of ‘A Street Cat Called Bob’ – a true story about a homeless man addicted to heroin, whose life changed when a stray ginger cat appeared in his life, and consequently helped him stay in recovery.

Where do you live?

Blenheim currently provides services across 11 London boroughs. If we don’t have services in your area, there’s lots more help available. Find out where else you can get help with drug and alcohol issues.